A/N: So here's the third chapter of Children of Arkham! I love writing this, even though I'm only half an hour into the game technically. I'm also attempting to write this as I babysit two 4 year olds and an 8 year old, one of the 4 year olds is very energetic so this is proving to be very….intetresting.
P.S. When I mention Diana at the end, I'm going completely off script but I'm back to the game in the next chapter.
P.P.S From here on out, there is a small time skip between chapters. I'm following the game. So, because the game didn't show Bruce seeing his guests out, I didn't write it and just began writing the second chapter when the next scene of the game started.
Thx!
AMM
I touch the scratches on my cheek and when I pull my fingers away, there's a small amount of blood. I enter the elevator and allow it to bring me towards the caves beneath the mansion.
The doors slide open and I walk out into the barely lit cave. "It's me," I say into the darkness and lights begin to illuminate the area while the sounds of machines begin to whir to life. I walk towards the batcomputer and turn on the news before glancing over at the two tickets splattered with blood sitting on my desk. The small display case they're normally in is open. I pick up the tickets and carefully place them back in the case.
"And we have breaking news tonight." The news reporter says. "Five criminals are in custody this evening after a break in at City Hall. The notorious Batman was on the scene but failed to secure the stolen items."
"Not all of them," I mutter to myself as I look to the small device I pulled out of my suit before putting it away and going upstairs. "Let's see what she was really after." But then I see the batsuit and the hole from the gunshot. The suit absorbed most of the damage. I've gotta protect my back, even from the police. Then I look to the cowl. Holographic lenses, voice modulation, Wayne Enterprises really outdid themselves with this version.
I move to head back to the small device but then see the news feed. The first articles headline says:
DA Dent Pressures Mayor to Decry Vigilante
Others include:
Police Lieutenant Tapped to Lead Task Force
and
Wayne Enterprises Fund Arkham Asylum Replacement
I then eye my spare and new weapons. I approach the device and pick it up. "I nearly fell off a building for this?" I type in a few commands then sit down as my chair rises out of the ground. After sitting, I plug the device into the data port.
"Encrypted," I mutter as a lock pops up on screen.
"Wayne Manor has seven bedrooms, two kitchens, a library, a gymnasium, a basketball court, and a movie theater….and yet I always find you here." Alfred tells me as he enters the cave. "In a dark, damp cave," he says as he sets down the coffee he prepared. "In front of a computer."
"I'm more at home here then the rest of the house, you know that." I tell him absently as I work on decrypting the device.
"Then we should build an eighth bedroom down here." He jokes.
"Sure. I can see the headlines now. Bruce Wayne. Billionaire. Entrepreneur. Cave Dweller." I joke back.
"Quite an eclectic resume." He tells me. "Did you find out what that….cat woman tried to steal?"
"In the process," I tell him when a progress bar appears.
"What are we looking at?" Alfred questions, leaning forward and squinting his eyes.
"Let me try a different angle." I hit a few keys and an overview of the city materializes behind me. I spin in my chair and stand up, approaching the cityscape. I spin the diagram until I'm looking at the Eastside Shoreline, which is highlighted in purple.
"That's Eastside Shoreline. But it could mean any number of things. Money, weapons, drugs, everything flows through that port."
"Maybe it's where Mayor Hill picks up his dry-cleaning." Alfred suggests.
"Hmm….I can't make sense of it yet, but there's still plenty of files to decrypt." I wave my hand over the hologram and it disappears.
"And in the meantime, I saved you what I could." He gestures to the coffee and sugar, even though he knows I take my coffee black.
"Thanks, Al," I say.
"The same couldn't be said for the bar-I had to literally pry Mrs. Zellerbach away. But you'll be pleased to hear everyone has left, including Mr. Falcone before the game switched from billiards to cutthroat. I'd recommend leaving the fist fights to your alter ego. Blood stains are much harder to remove from a tuxedo."
"I don't want anything to do with Falcone." I state adamantly.
"Well, he certainly showed interest in you," Alfred reminds. "That's what worries me. For the record, your father despised men like Falcone. Thought they ruined Gotham's stellar reputation."
"Back when it still had one?" I ask, looking to him before moving my eyes back to the screen.
"It can again, Bruce. Though people like this cat woman aren't helping. Is she new to town?"
"Never seen her before." I admit. "Hopefully, she's just a tourist. I'll check the codex." I select the codex and scroll through until I find the file for Catwoman. "Found her." Alfred and I both scan through the information but don't learn much.
"Not much to find, apparently."
"A few burglaries, break ins….seems to lay pretty low."
"You could learn a thing or two from her." I cross my arms and lean back, nearly glaring at Alfred. He sees the look but goes to defend his statement. "You can't step outside without it ending up in the news lately. As Bruce or Batman."
"That's the point. I want criminals to know I'm out there. Batman isn't hiding from anybody." I uncross my arms and lean back in towards the computer.
"I was talking about Bruce," Alfred says. I hit a few more keys before standing up. "I don't mean to beat a dead argument, but-"
"No one's gonna figure it out, Al. Trust me."
"Ms. Vale noticed." He points out. "So did Mr. Dent. If they put it together with the incident from the Mayor's office….it would undo all the long nights and close calls we've endured to get here." It's not like I had time to cover the scratches and stop the bleeding. "You're in the spotlight more than ever. You have to be careful." Alfred gently insists, but the worry is evident beneath it.
"I've had to cover for mysterious injuries before." I remind him.
"You've been lucky." He states.
"Or I'm just a really good liar."
"A necessary evil in your line of work, I suppose." Alfred relents. "Though I hope you change careers someday." And somehow I know he's not talking about my CEO position at Wayne Enterprises. I turn away from him.
"Old men worry, that's all. It's our gift and our curse." I turn back to Alfred as he holds something out. "One more worry for the list." It's one of the business cards Harvey had set around upstairs. I look at it for a second before flipping it over. On the back, next to a coffee stain, is written in neat blue handwriting:
Park! 6 am –Oz
"I thought I saw Oz. It's been what, 20 years?" I ask Alfred as he leans forward and types something into the Batcomputer. "Last time I saw him….we were in grade school."
"Indeed," Alfred agrees as a picture of two boys pops up on screen. One in a dark blue long sleeved shirt with a smile on his face and the other in a red t-shirt with his tongue sticking out. Oz could never take a serious picture. Our arms are slung over each other's shoulders. "You two were thick as thieves. Oswald, however, took that role more literally than you." Alfred leans forward, hits a few keys and Oz's mug shot and record pops up.
"Dishonorable discharge, illegal boxing matches, arms dealing, prison stints." I read off as newspaper articles and pictures of his illegal acts pop up as well.
"It's a criminal grand slam, if I'm using the expression correctly."
"Unfortunately, you are." I admit to him.
"Oswald claimed he only wanted to catch up, but his behavior following his family's collapse is….troubling. Why he's returning now, I haven't the faintest idea."
I think for a moment. There's no way this is a coincidence. "Do you think he might know something about the break in?" I ask Alfred. "This catwoman shows up the same time Oswald comes back to town….might not be a coincidence."
"Oswald's crimes, numerous as they may be, are on a much smaller scale than robbing City Hall." Alfred replies.
"Well, he was always trouble growing up, but the fun kind of trouble."
Alfred gives me a look before saying with a small smile, "You both were." I shrug. "Even though you and young Master Cobblepot used to be close, I'd advise you to be cautious. But I know you can't abandon a good mystery until it's solved."
"I'll be careful, Alfred." I assure him.
"When you see what's become of his park, I think you will." A picture of Cobblepot Park shortly after it'd opened pops up on screen. "By the way, Mistress Diana called while you were making your rounds. I told her you'd call back at the first chance you got." I smile slightly. I think Alfred is just as smitten with her as I am.
"Of course, Alfred. I'll give her a call, then I'll take a quick shower, and then I'll change to go meet Oz in the park." I tell Alfred as I see the time and nearly falter as I remember for the first time in a few hours what today is.
"What about sleep? And something to eat?" Alfred asks as I walk back towards the elevator.
"What's sleep?" I ask over my shoulder before stepping into the elevator and hitting the button to take me up. The doors slide shut as I watch Alfred shut off the computer. As I rise towards the mansion, I pull my phone out of my pocket and scroll to Diana's number. The phone rings four times and I start to worry she's asleep or something but then she picks up.
"Bruce!" I hear on the other end.
"Hey, Princess," I greet. "Did I catch you at a bad time?" I ask.
"No, I just had my phone on silent and didn't hear it buzzing. How was Harvey's campaign?" she asks and I can hear her flopping onto something as springs squeak.
"Ah, it was a party and I had to play billionaire playboy. Same ol' same ol'." I walk into the kitchen and strip off my tux jacket and shirt before bending over to find dawn dish soap under the sink for the stain on my shirt collar. I pull my phone away from my ear and put it on speaker after setting it on the counter.
Alfred walks into the kitchen with the coffee I didn't end up drinking downstairs.
"Hello Mistress Diana," Alfred calls out.
"Alfred! How are you?" Diana asks.
"Doing fine. Did Master Bruce tell you about his unexpected guests tonight?"
"No. Were these Bruce Wayne's guests?" she asks.
"Yes, Princess. Was talking to people with Harvey when I see a childhood friend chugging alcohol in the corner and then he left a note saying he wants to meet at 6 am and then Carmine Falcone showed up." I tell her as I start scrubbing on the stain. Despite having a butler, when stuff like this happens to my Bruce Wayne clothes because of Batman things, I try and take care of it myself if I have the time. I feel bad dumping everything on him.
"Bruce, there's more to tell then Carmine Falcone just 'showing up.'" Alfred scolds, knowing I'm trying to downplay it. It's not like I'm worried or anything about him showing up.
"I don't know what else to say." I say honestly.
"Well, what'd he want?" Diana asks.
"He said he had friends in the city and was hoping to make a new one and then Harvey's also working with him to help win the position of Mayor. Personally, I don't think Falcone likes Harvey. He had nothing positive to say about him even though Harvey was right there. He thinks Harvey is just saying he'll make Gotham better. I fully believe Harvey will change Gotham, will do things to change Gotham for the better. Then he had to bring up dad. That pissed me off, naturally, and he warned me that I'd get what's coming to me."
Diana's fully aware of how I feel when my parents are brought up, especially by people who are trying to say bad things about them or are insinuating bad things about them.
"I'm sorry they brought up your parents, Bruce," Diana says softly.
"Yeah, well he's gone. I don't think it's good that Harvey's working with this guy but I can't tell Harvey what to do." I decide I've scrubbed hard enough on the shirt and Alfred comes up with my tux jacket tossed over his arm and he takes the shirt.
"Thanks, Al," Alfred nods before leaving the kitchen.
"Well how was the rest of your night? Anything else happen?" I know she's talking about Batman.
"Other then a handful of thugs trying to break into the Mayor's office and a new thief in Gotham, no, not really. How's it going for you guys?" I ask as I begin unwrapping my waist, wincing when I pull bandage away from my injured side.
"What's that noise?" of course she hears the bandages.
"Nothing," I tell her as I remove the bandages quieter.
"Like Hera it is. Are those bandages I'm hearing?"
"Would you like me to start your shower, Master Bruce?" Alfred asks from the doorway.
"I can get it, thanks," I tell him.
"Alfred, are those bandages I hear?" Diana shouts. I wince but for a different reason then the injured side.
"Why yes, Mistress Diana. Did he not tell you-" I look to Alfred with wide eyes and shake my head while indicating for him not to continue. Alfred smirks and continues anyway, "that he was hurt this evening? Oh he was mighty fine to stitch up. Made him late to the campaign." I want to slap my forehead and bang my head against the wall at the same time.
"What happened, Bruce?" Diana demands, practically setting my phone on fire. I can hear her mild annoyance and fury at me for not mentioning my injury.
"Diana, it's fine. Nothing that hasn't happened before and that I can't handle."
"Alfred-" Diana starts but knowing Alfred will go into full detail and make me sound like an idiot, I cut in.
"Fine, I got shot." I admit.
"What?!" Diana shouts. "Is that it?"
"I got scratched on the jaw as well, but I'm fine. The suit took most of the damage of the gunshot."
"If you mean by 'most of the damage' that the suit just stopped the bullet from going in one side and coming out the other, then yes it took 'most of the damage', Master Bruce. But I would not consider the suit taking more damage then you. That bullet tore right through your suit." I roll my eyes as Alfred informs me of his opinion.
"You were able to dig it out and stitch me up, right? So I believe that since you only had to stitch up one side, that I'm fine. It's not like I've never been shot before." I pull away the last of the bandages and Alfred approaches with fresh supplies.
"There's probably a video of this all happening on the Gotham City News website, Mistress Diana. They caught Master Bruce and this woman fighting." I cringe as Diana begins shouting again.
"Woman?!"
"Yeah, that new thief I was talking about. Never seen her before here in Gotham." I say, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Kal!" Diana shouts away from the phone. I hear him call back. "Can I borrow your phone?"
"Why?" Can faintly be heard.
"There's supposedly a video of Bruce getting shot and I want to see it so I can shout at him." Diana tells him and Kal chuckles.
"You got an angry Amazon over here, Bruce." Kal says loudly.
"I never would've guessed," I say sarcastically. For the next few minutes, I can hear the video playing and can almost feel Diana getting more and more upset while Alfred assists me in re-wrapping my waist. Then I hear the police break out onto the roof and Gordon's order not to fire. Another moment before a gunshot rings out. Then I'm heard-or Batman's heard-shouting after Catwoman. Then the video seems to end.
"Bruce Wayne, you're in a lot of trouble when I get back. Nothing?! Getting shot in the side then running after some mad woman and holding on to her while dangling off the building yourself-I could kill you!"
"It's not like I was going to let her fall. You know I would never let anyone die on my watch if I can help it. No matter how insane they are."
"I hope those scratches on your jaw hurt!" Then Diana goes on to curse in Greek. Alfred secures the bandages in a spot I can't reach so I can't undo it myself, at least not the proper way, and then leaves the room.
"Princess, I'm sorry, but it could've been far worse and it's not like I'm not used to it. I barely feel it at this point." I try to assure her but it doesn't work.
"And you think that makes me feel any better?!"
"No, I guess not, but I am sorry for worrying and upsetting you. I just didn't want you worrying when you're supposed to be concentrating on your own mission." There's silence on the other end for a few moments. "I love you," I say quietly. I hear a quiet sigh.
"I love you too, Bruce, but I don't want you to keep things like this from me."
"I know," is all I say. "I gotta go, Princess. We'll talk later, okay?"
"Okay. Love you, Bruce."
"Love you too, Princess. Bye,"
"Bye," and she hangs up.
"Well, that could've gone way better but could've gone worse as well," I mutter to myself. "Alfred!" I shout out. "You can't just go and tell her things like that and leave me by myself to make it all better!" I shout and can hear a distant chuckle.
A/N: So I actually split this and the next chapter up. The next chapter was originally part of this one but when I saw how long it was, I split it up. This chapter is already long enough; adding another 2,000 words to it probably isn't the smartest idea.
Thx!
AMM
